Benjamin Grimm

Spelling is only going to matter for the next 34 games. I guess the Mets are going to try to make it difficult for me.

Gwreck wrote: Have to run for Uribe. I was thinking that would have been a perfect time for Eric Young.

The Mets lost yesterday, but still on balance a good day, because the Nationals lost too, which reduces the magic number from 30 to 29, and the NHOP from .423 to .420. The Mets will be in first place when the sun rises on Friday, September 4. DateMets RecordNationals RecordMets LeadMagic NumberGames RemainingNHOPAugust 356-5054-501571140.500August 457-5055-501561120.500August 558-5055-512541100.491August 658-5056-511.5541090.495August 759-5056-522.5521070.486August 859-5157-521.5521050.495August 959-5257-531.5511030.495August 1060-5258-531.5501010.495August 1161-5258-542.548990.485August 1262-5258-553.546970.474August 1363-5258-564.544950.463August 1463-5358-574.543930.462August 1563-5458-584.542910.462August 1663-5558-594.541890.461August 1763-5558-594.541890.461August 1864-5559-594.540870.460August 1964-5660-593.540850.471August 2064-5660-60439840.464August 2165-5660-61537820.451August 2266-5661-61536800.450August 2367-5662-61535780.449August 2468-5662-615.534770.442August 2569-5663-615.533750.440August 2670-5663-626.531730.425August 2771-5664-626.530710.423August 2871-5764-636.529690.420

Next year there's going to be a new system, and games will generally be open for voting for a longer period of time. (I'm thinking at least two weeks.) It all stems from my desire to be less hands on with this. I won't have to fix spelling errors, or remind people to include first initials where necessary, or prorate totals over 10 points, or manage all of these voting threads. I'll also be able to retire my magic spreadsheet. More news on this during the offseason.

Latest from Baseball Prospectus: Mets odds to win the NL East go from 92.9% to 93.1%. Odds for the wild card are 0.2%. Odds to win the World Series edge upwards a little, from 9.2% to 9.5% Odds to win World Series Astros 15.3% Dodgers 14.9% Blue Jays 14.6% Cardinals 10.7% Royals 9.8% METS 9.5%

Andy Martino wrote: * Bartolo Colon will spend the next few weeks basically auditioning for a spot on the postseason roster. The team has not ruled out using him in a late-inning relief role, but is leaving open the possibility of excluding him entirely. * There is active debate, and nowhere near agreement, on whether to move Noah Syndergaard to the bullpen. In internal discussions, some Mets people salivate over the notion of Syndergaard blowing 100 mph in the seventh inning. Others worry about his lack of experience in that role, and are hesitant to move him from the rotation in September. With both Syndergaard and Matz, the Mets would want to do it soon, so they could gain experience pitching in relief. * Hoping that Matz will start for them in October, the Mets are closely watching several lefties in their system, including Scott Rice, Dario Alvarez and Josh Smoker.

1984 had its own kind of magic, but by late July or early August I had a sense that it wasn't going to happen for the Mets. The excitement in 1985 went all the way to the end of the season, and I hadn't experienced anything like that since 1973, when I was only ten and too young to appreciate it. 1999 had a similar exciting ending, and one that ended better. If I was born 10 or 15 years later than I was, I think 1999 would be my favorite season. But I was older and more jaded by then, so for me it's 1985.

What an era we live in. It only took me a moment to find a photo on the Internet of a unicorn named Carlos.

Does this make Carlos a unicorn?

There was also more suspense in 1985 than in 1986, when the Mets ran away with the division. In 1986, all of the suspense of 1985 was compressed into the month of October, which was, and will always remain, the greatest baseball month of my life.

Actually, there have been three since August 3: Return of the NHOP

There's nothing wrong with respecting your opponent, especially in retrospect. Willie Stargell didn't hit all those home runs off the Mets because he was evil. He was a baseball player trying to help his team win. Same with Mike Schmidt and Chipper Jones. And someday I'll be willing to say the same about Ryan Howard.

I wasn't offended by that. I wouldn't expect him to know that Mets fans and Yankee fans are distinct species.

I read a few things online. The Nationals are pointing to recent examples of other teams that were behind in August and stormed into first place with a strong September. They feel that the same thing can happen with them. And they're right. It doesn't mean it will happen, but it can, and fictional Jayson Werth is right, the Nationals have to concentrate on winning each game. I wish I could peek ahead at the standings two weeks from today. At that point, with the three games in DC behind us, we'll have a much clearer idea of the challenge ahead. If the Mets lead is still 5 or 6 games at that point, they'll be in really good shape. And if it's 7 or 8 or more, then even better.

Yes, but now at least you know not to have dinner at the LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr house.

CTorres 1.75 Cespedes 1.5 Gilmartin 1.25 Johnson 1 Murphy 1.5 Robles 0.75 Verrett 0.75 d'Arnaud 1.5

Look how nice August looks!

The Mets and Nationals both won yesterday, which means that the NHOP has a more modest decline than it did the day before, dropping from .425 to .423. The magic number decreases from 31 to 30. The Mets can now be sure that they'll wake up on the morning of September 3 in first place. That date, by the way, is the next scheduled date when the Mets are off and the Nationals are not. Barring rainouts, of course, next Thursday the Nationals will be caught up with the Mets in the number of games played, but hopefully well behind them in the number of games won. It's at that point that the ".5" will disappear from the games behind column in the standings. DateMets RecordNationals RecordMets LeadMagic NumberGames RemainingNHOPAugust 356-5054-501571140.500August 457-5055-501561120.500August 558-5055-512541100.491August 658-5056-511.5541090.495August 759-5056-522.5521070.486August 859-5157-521.5521050.495August 959-5257-531.5511030.495August 1060-5258-531.5501010.495August 1161-5258-542.548990.485August 1262-5258-553.546970.474August 1363-5258-564.544950.463August 1463-5358-574.543930.462August 1563-5458-584.542910.462August 1663-5558-594.541890.461August 1763-5558-594.541890.461August 1864-5559-594.540870.460August 1964-5660-593.540850.471August 2064-5660-60439840.464August 2165-5660-61537820.451August 2266-5661-61536800.450August 2367-5662-61535780.449August 2468-5662-615.534770.442August 2569-5663-615.533750.440August 2670-5663-626.531730.425August 2771-5664-626.530710.423

This is going to be a battle of the bullpens, I think. I'm hoping that Gilmartin and Verrett are available.

Ummm... Go Padres?

Welcome back! (That's one more Tom Koehler shirt that will have to be ordered.)

I never had a problem with Chipper either. If he's seen the light and wants to be a Mets fan, then he's more than welcome. (Invite him to the forum NOW!) He named his kid after Shea Stadium! Tom Seaver named his girls "Anne" and "Sarah". What the hell kinds of names are those?